Inner sole having resilient insert



A fpijil, 1939.1` M. MARGOLIN l 2,153,021

maar( soLE HAVING RESILIENT INSERT Filed June 1'1, 1938 INVENTOR.meijer' mazlgohn ,u ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 4, 19,39

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

a short distance of the peripheryvof the forepart of the inner sole. Thesponge rubber insert may be centrally bulged to provide metatarsalsupport and, further, may have perforations therein to provide breathingin the inner sole.

' Inner soles are used between the bottom sole and sock lining of shoes.Such inner soles should have fiexibility to make for comfortable walkingand this has been achieved in the past by putting a hole in the middleof the forepart of the inner sole. Although this perforation providesthe proper iiexibility for the inner sole it diminishes the strength ofthe inner sole and drops support from the metatarsal arch. Further, itcauses the bottom of the shoe to be flat or of such shape as isundesirable from the standpoint of sales value.

I have devised a novelinner sole with an insert of such construction asto provide many desirable properties, viz. to givethe shoe a roundedbottom which is a characteristic feature of all good quality shoes, toprovide proper metatarsal support and therefore give a much sounderconstruction from the standpoint of health. My novel inner sole,further, provides free penetration of air and consequent breathing ofthe shoe which l's na most important element.

My new inner sole construction comprises an inner sole, as for example aleather innersole, 35 with a cutaway forepart that extends adjacent tothe edge of the inner sole. That is, the center of the inner sole isdied out to a shape that corresponds to the foot contour as will be morefully described hereinafter. In this cutaway portion 40 of the forepartof the inner sole there is placed an insert of soft resilient material,asfor example sponge rubber or closed cell rubber or any resilientmaterial, which makes for greater exibility in the inner sole and whenbulged on top and bottom or either top or bottom as is preferable, itfurther provides a distinct metatarsal support. The sponge rubber insertis made by shaping in such a manner that the sides of the insert arethinner than the central portion and are of approximately the thicknessof the inner sole. This rubberinsert may be perforated with holes forincreased flexibility and for complete permeability to air. This is animportant advantage of my construction.

The bottom ofthe perforations inthe insert are reinforced as by moldedbosses to provide strength to the opening so that the pressure of thefootiwill not cause the hole or perforation to closeup, thus preventingthe desired breathing. y

The insert may be tted into the inner sole in a variety of manners. Iprovide rst an in-` sert with an extending lap on one side only whichdiminishes in thickness down to a feather edge and lies dat upon theinner sole. This lap is l0 on the bottom side only.

In lieu of using a lap en one side only, I may vemploy an insert withthe lap on each side, vthat is on the top and the bottom of the innersole. In this event the insert fits snugly into the cut- 15 away portionof the inner sole and the laps extend from the insert over the edges ofthe inner sole towards the periphery thereof with gradually diminishingthickness to provide a feather edge and thus impart to the inner soleand to 20 the shoe a desired central bulge and side uniformity. f

I may further provide a felt lining over the inner sole, the felt lininghaving perforations which'ar'e in line with the perforations of the 25inner sole and permit the breathing of the shoe.

It is, therefore, an object of my invention to-J provide a novel innersole with a resilient insert.

It is a further object of myinvention to provide 'a novel inner solehaving sponge rubber in- 30 sert in the forepart thereof.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a novel inner solehaving a sponge rubber insert that is centrally bulged to providemetatarsal support in the shoe where it is placed.

-It is still a further object of my invention to provide a novel innersole having a resilient insert, said insert having perforations toprovide breathing.

It is still a further object of my invention to 40 provide a novel innersole having a resilient insert that extends adjacent to the periphery ofthe forepart of the inner sole and constitutes a central portion of saidforepart of the inner sole.

These and other objects of my invention will become apparentfrom themore detailed description which follows in connection with the drawing,in which,

Figure 1 shows a. shoe in side elevation with a section cut away to showthe inner sole construction of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the inner sole with the single lap insert ofmy invention.

Figure 3 is a cross section taken along line 55 3-3 of Figure 2 showingthe single lap inner sole in the shoe.

Figure 4 represents a detail of the inner sole and insert taken alongthe line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a plan view of the resilient insert for the inner solehaving a single lap.

Figure 6 is a plan view of the double lapped insert in position in theinner sole.

ers

Figure '7 is a cross section taken along the line 1--1 of Figure 6showing the double lapped inner sole in position.

Figure 8 is a detail cross section taken along the line 8--8 of Figure6.

Figure 9 is a plan view of the double lapped insert of my invention.

' Referring now more specifically to the drawing, in Figure 1 is shown ashoe i with an outer sole 2 and a sock lining 3 between which is theinner sole of my invention 4 having the resilient insert, as of spongerubber, 5. The insert 5 of the inner sole 4 has laps 6 which extend overthe inner sole and are tapered down to a feather edge as will bedescribed more specifically hereinafter. The insert 5 has the openings 1which may be perforated or molded therein. The perforations 1 facilitatethe transmission of air in the bottom of` the shoe and add tothebreathing properties of the shoe.

In Figure 2 is shown the plan view of the inner sole 4 of my inventionwith the insert 5 disposed therein. The dotted line lil indicates theextent of the lap Il which is a part'of insert 5 and extends therefromover the inner sole. As indicated by the dotted lines and by the crosssectional showing in Figure l, this lapA extends on the bottom of theinner sole, and aids in providing the bulge or rounded shape on thebottom of the inner sole. The openings 1 have bosses 8, shown in dottedlines, at the bottom of the openings toprovide strength andreinforcement against closure of the openings under the pressure of thefoot.

In Figure 3, which is a cross section taken along the line 3-3 of Figure2, the construction of the inner sole is shown in detail, the samenumerals applying as in Figures 1 and 2. It can be more clearlydetermined from this drawing that the bottom of the insert has a bulgewhich p'rovides the desirable rounded effect to the bottom of the shoe,and this bulge tapers away to a feather edge as shown in this figure atI2.

Figure 4 shows a detail taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 2 toillustrate more clearly the contour of the feather edge and of thebosses on the bottom of the inner sole.

Figure 5 is a plan view of the insert by itself. The insert may, ofcourse, be of sponge rubber, closed cell rubber or any suitableresilient material` In this figure it can be seen in what manner the lapIl extends from the main body of the insert 5.

Figure 6 is a planA view of a modification of the inner sole of myinvention in which the rubber insert 20 positioned within the inner sole4 has a double lap that extends on each side of the inner sole'. This ismore clearly shown by the cross sectional view in Figure '7 in which theinsert 20 is seen with the upper lap 2| and the lower lap 22. Thisdouble lap effect firmly secures the insert to the inner sole. Theinsert has openings 23 and the bosses 24 on the lower surface.

Figure 8 is a detail taken along the line 8--8 of Figure 6 and showsclearly in what manner the laps 2l and 22 .of the insert 20 extend overthe inner sole 4 diminishing to a feather point at 25 and 26.

Figure 9 is a plan view of this insert with the double laps.

Although I have specifically described the inner sole of my invention ashaving perforatlons contained therein with bosses at the bottom of thehole for reinforcement, it is to be understood that it may beeconomically desired to eliminate the reinforcing means at the bottom ofthe holes, or in the event that the breathing characteristics are notnecessary because of the particular construction involved, the holes orperforations' themselves may be dispensed with and a solid resilientinsert employed without perforations.

Furthermore, the shape of the insert itself, although preferable, is notcritical, and any desirable shape of the insert may be employed in theinner sole.

The insert` presents many new and unexpected advantages. of itsposition, the main walking surface of the shoe, that is at the ball ofthe foot, it provide a springiness and lightness of walk that makes forunusual walking and wearing propertiesin the shoe. It provides all ofthe advantages of a rubber sole without any of the many disadvantages.It affords opportunity for a combination of the conventional leatherouter sole with its excellent wearing qualities and desirable appearancewith an added resilience and spring that could not otherwise beobtained. Further, the insert may be molded to any desirable shape andthus, by means of the slight bulge, may provide a metatarsal support. Itis difficult to obtain a shoe bottom that will give the proper contourfor metatarsal support without resorting to lumpiness as 'produced byfelt pads or similar means hitherto employed.

Another factor of great importance in this particular inner soleconstruction lies in the flexibility of the shoe obtained by the use ofthis inner sole. When an inner sole is solid, it has a resistance tobend that is preeminently undesirable. Because of the cutaway section ofthe inner sole of my invention and the rubber insert, the inner sole,While performing all of its desirable functions, has an extremelyflexible nature that gives a new and unexpected comfort to the shoe.

The openings in the rubber insert provide breathing properties of theshoe superior to what would be expected by merely providingopenings inthe bottom of the shoe. The openings extending through the bottom of theshoe are, of course, undesirable from the standpoint of ordinary wearand the possibility of encountering water or dampness is apparent, butwith the openings Alocated in the rubber insert there is forcedbreathingtaking place because of the constant compression and release ofthe rubber under the pressure of the food during walking; thus air isbeing continuously pumped through the shoe bottom and this materiallyadds to the comfort of the foot. The bosses which I have provided in thebottom of these openings main` tain the, openings against closure andfacilitate breathing action.

When the inner sole with the insert is employed in conjunction with afelt inner sole placed thereover, the openings or perforations in thefelt inner sole matching the openings in the insert, a very high qualityshoe bottom is formed.

Preferably the resilient insert follows the contours of the forepart ofthe inner sole since this First, since it embodies, by reason.

shape provides the most desirable characteristics. That is the bulgeeffect then provides a uniformly ,rounded shoe bottom. However, itiswithin the scope of my invention to use an insert of any desirableshape.

Further, although I prefer to use laps to secure the insert firmlywithin the cut out inner sole, I may use an insert without such laps.The laps, however, provide an additional bulge area for the insert andin some instances this is useful. Thus, when it is desired to give arather great thickness to the insert to give the rounded shoe bottomeffect, this thickness should taper of! gradually and the extent oi thetaper is naturally governed by the extent of the insert. When the inserthas laps that extend over the inner sole the taper effect is extendedand thus enhanced.

I claim:

1. An article comprising an inner sole, said inner sole having anopening disposed centrally of the forepart of the inner sole; and aresilient insert tting Within said opening, said insert havingperforations extending through its thickness, said perforations beingreinforced on at least one end with bosses, said insert being bulged onat least one side to provide metatarsal support, said insert having a.lap on at least one side which extends over the inner sole thussecuringthe insert within the inner sole and providing an insert bulge oi largerarea than the opening in the inner sole.

2. An article comprising an inner sole. said inner sole having anopening disposed centrally of the forepart of the inner sole, theopening having the general contour of the forepart of the inner sole;and a rubber insert fitting within said opening, said insert havingpertorations extending through its thickness, said perforations beingreinforced on the bottom with molded bosses, said insert being centrallybulged to provide metatarsal support and give a rounded shoe bottomeffect, said insert having laps on both sides which extend over theinner sole thus securing the insert Within the inner sole and providingan insert bulge of larger area than the opening in the inner sole.

3. An article comprising an inner sole, said inner sole having anopening disposed in the forepart' of the inner sole, said openinggenerally corresponding in contour to the contour of the forepart ofsaid inner sole, and a resilient insert iltting within said opening,said insert having perforations extending through its thickness, saidperforationsbeing reinforced on at least one end with bosses, saidinsert being bulged on at least one side, said insert having a lap on atleast one side which extends over the inner sole thus securing theinsert within the inner sole and providing an insert bulge of largerarea than the opening in the inner sole.

MEYER MARGOLIN.

